Floor-gate-actuating device for elevators.



No. 871,898- PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907.

- W. 0. SMITH.

FLOOR GATE AGTUATING DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.B,1907.

m5 mamas PETERS m, wAsI-uu crmv, D c

PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907.

W. 0. SMITH. FLOOR GATE AOTUATING DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED APR-8, 1907.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M pawl W\ THE NORRIS PETERS co.,'wAsHmc-1on, :1 c

PATENTED NOV.-26, 1907.

2A 2 Z M m mm 4 m a i m 7 a 7 m Id TIL 4 0 o q m m B5 4 u u n W. 0. SMITH.

FLOOR GATE AGTUATING DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

A PPLIOATION I'IIIED APR.B,1907.

THE NORRIS PETERS ca, \vAsmmrram Dy c.

No. 871,898. PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907. w. 0. SMITH.

FLOOR GATE AGTUATING DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS. APPLICATION FILED APB..B,-1907.

i y4. E

a l 1 I I 1 X J Iiizgme 1W 7% )fzii/am ZJ'miifi.

73 724517110711 eys',

THE mum's PETERS c0., WASHINGTON, b4 c.

No. 871,898. 1 PATENTED NOV.-26, 1907. W. 0. SMITH. FLOOR GATE AOTUATING DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED APR-8,1907.

I my/l'am 6 Sin/7h 1n: NQRRIS PETERS co., wasamanm n. c

WILLIAM 0. SMITH, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

FLOOR-GATE-AC'IUATING DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1907.

Application filed April 8. 1907. Serial No. 366,955.

. To. all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM 0. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin 5 and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Floor-Gate-Actuating Devices for Elevators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its especial object to provide an improved device for automatically opening and closing elevator shafts, and to this end it consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view principally in side elevation showing my invention as applied to an elevator shaft, some parts being broken away and some parts sectioned. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 91: of Fig. 1, with some parts illustrated by dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 00 00 of Fig. 1, with some parts illustrated by dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line a x of Fig. 1, some parts being broken away and some parts sectioned. Fig. 5 is a detail on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 00 00 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail taken approximately on the line 00 w of Fig. 5.

The numeral 1 indicates the vertical guides for the elevator car. The numeral 2 indi cates two of the floors, and 3 two of the ceilings of a building, the same having the usual openings 4 through which the elevator cars may pass.

The shaft openings 4 in the floors 2 and the ceilings 3, are adapted to be opened and closed by a gate preferably made up of two sections 5 and 6. These sections are adapted to slide horizontally in suitable guide grooves 7 secured to the ceilings 3, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In practice, of course, the openings 4 in each of the several floors of the building, through which the elevator shaft is passed, should be provided with a gate of the kind described.

Only the main parts of the elevator car are of the vertical guides 1.

shown in the drawings. Of theparts shown,

the numeral 8 indicates the car floor or platform resting upon a rectangular channelshaped frame 9, which is rigidly secured to a pair of laterally spaced uprights 10, which, as shown, are provlded with suitable braces or stay rods 11. The uprights 10 are tied together at their upper portions by a heavy transverse beam 12, to which the car supporting cables 13 are attached in the usual or any suitable Way. A heavy transverse beam 14 is also secured to the under side of the rectangular frame 9, to the outer ends of which, and to the outer ends of the beam 12, are secured suitable guides 15 adapted .to slide upon the vertical guides 1.

To operate the gate sections 5 and 6 there is provided, for each floor of the building equipped with said gate sections 5 and 6, a pair of gate operating devices, one for opening and the other for closing said gate sections. These gate operating devices are located, one on each of the vertical guides 1, as shown, but if preferred may belocated both on the same vertical guide 1.. The gate operating devices will be described in the singular for the sake of brevity.

The numeral 16 indicates a rectangular carrier frame, having secured at its upper end an eye 17, and to its lower end an eye 18. A cable 19, having one end secured to the eye 17 and the other end to the eye 18, runs over a pair of sheaves and 21 mounted in one These sheaves 2021 are of such size as to project through each side of the vertical guide 1, sufficiently, so as to allow the cable 19 to run quite close to both sides of said guide 1. To the intermediate portion of the cable 19 which runs over the guide sheaves 20 and 21 located in the vertical guide 1 to the right with reference to Fig. 4, a long cable 22 is secured by a clip 19 (see Fig. 3). Said cable 22 first runs upward and over guide sheaves 2324 and under a guide sheave 25 secured to the vertical guide 1; thence said cable 22 runs over the guide sheaves 26, 27, 28 and 29 secured to the under side of the floor 2 (see Fig. 4) thence under the guide sheave 30 and over the guide sheaves 31 and 32 secured to the vertical guide 1 to the left, with reference to Fig. 4. Said cable then runs upward and is secured by clip 19 to the intermediate portion of the cable 19 which runs over the guide sheaves 20 and 21 located in the verti cal guide 1 just referred to.

The cable 22, between the guide sheaves 27 and 28, is secured to the upper and. rear portion of the gate section 6 by a suitable clamp 33 (see Fig. 4). It is evident, that if the carrier frame 16, shown in Fig. 2, is moved upwards, the gate section 6 will slide over one-half of the opening 4, through the cable connections 22; and since said cable is connected to both the left and right hand cables 19, the right hand carrier frame 16 (see Fig. 3) will move downward at the same time that the left hand carrier frame 16 is moving upward. A cable 34 is also secured to the clips 19, at its two ends, (see Figs. 2 and 3). in fact, this cable, if desired, may be a continuation .of the cable 22. With. reference to Fig. 3, the cable 34 first runs down and under a guide sheave 35 secured to the vertical guide 1; thence upward and. over the guide sheaves 36, 37, 38 and 39 secured to the sides of the opening 4 (see Fig. 4); and thence upward to the clip 19 (see Fig. 2). As is evident, when the carrier frame 16, with ref rence to Fig. 3, is moved upward, the carrier frame 16 on the op msite vertical guide 1., will move downward, through. the cable connection 34.

To open and close the gate section 5 simultaneously with the gate section 6, a long cable 40 is secured, approximately at its intermediate portion, by a clip 4']. to the cable 22 between the guide sheaves 25 and 26 (see Fig. 4).. One end of the cable 40 secured to the rear upper portion of the gate section 5 by a suitable clamp 42. That portion of the cable 46, between the clip 41. and the clamp 42, runs over guide sheaves 43 and 44 secured to the under side of the floor The other end of the cable 40 is secured to the forward upper portion of the gate section 5 by a suitable clamp 45, and that portion of the cable 40, between the clip 41 and the clamp 45, runs over guide sheaves 46 47 and 48. As is evident, when the gate section 6 is moved so as to either open or close onehalf of the opening 4 adjacent thereto, the gate section 5 will be moved simultaneously to either open or close the other half of said opening, through the cable connection 40.

A push block 49, adapted to rotate between the side walls of each carrier frame 16, is provided with short trunnions 50 mounted in seats formed in said side walls. As shown, four springs 51, are connected to lugs 52 on the trunnions 50, and to pins 53 se cured to the side walls of said carrier frame 16. These springs 51 tend to hold the said push block 49 in its normal or horizontal position, as best shown in Fig. 5. Said push. block 49 is also provided with oppositely extended feet 54, having j ournaled therein wheels 55, which are adapted to run over respective wearing strips 56 secured to the vertical guides 1. The said push block 49 is fur ther provided with oppositely extended bosses 57. For each push block 49, the guide 1 is provided with a pair of pockets 5.; to trip said push block and limit the trawl thereof, and on account of the shape of said pockets 58, one of the rollers 55 always rests upon the wearing strip 56 after said push block has been tripped.

To trip the push blocks 49 and to cause the carrier frame 16 to travel up and down. to open and close the gate sections 5 and 6. the elevator car is provided on its left hand. side(see Fig. 1), with. a short arm 59 secured to the beam 14, a short internualiate arm 6:2 secured to one of the supports 19, and with a long upwardly projecting arm 69 secured to one of the guides 15 onv the beam 12. The right hand. side of the elevator car is provided with a short arm 61 secured to linbeam 12, a short intermraliate arm 62 socured. to one of the supports 16, and a. long downwardly projecting arm 63 secured to the beam 14. All of the arms, 59 to 62-3 inclusive.

are of such length. and shape as to have engagemeiit with the several bosses 57 of the push blocks 49, at the proper time.

To look the gate sections 5 and 6 in either their open or closed positions, a spring pressed lock bolt 64 is mounted for sliding movement through the central portion ol ihn push block 49. Said. lock bolt 64 norn1.-ill projects through the end of the push. block and into any one of the several poolwts a (see Fig. 5). To withdraw the lock bolt (ilfrom the pockets 58, spring pressed plugs 65 are mounted, one in each boss 57, and normally project above the upper surface thereof. Said plugs are adapted to be con]- pressed by any one of the several levers 59 to 63 inclusive. The end. of the plugs. 67 which project within the bosses 57, are beveled to form cam surfaces 66, for engagement with shoulders 67, formed one in each side of the lock bolt 64, to withdraw said lock bolt from the pockets 58 before the carrier frame 1.6 and the push blorl: 19 start to move up or down, as the case may be.

The operation may be briefly stated as follows: As shown in Fig. 2, the opening 4 in the upper floor is closed by gate sections 5 and 6, and the opening in the lower lloor open. When the elevator car moves up ward in the direction of the arrow marked in Fig. 1, the arms 60 and 62 will first engage the lower bosses 65 in the push blocks 49 of the two carrier frames 16 standing in their uppermost position, one being located at each floor, the one on the left not being shown. The carrier frames 16, and parts carried thereby, when in their uppermost position, will cover the uppermost pockets 58, as best shown in Fig. 5. As the elevator continues to move upward, the push blocks 49, engaged by the arms 60 and 62, will be swung into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, thereby permitting said arms ermost position, one being located at each floor, (see Fig. 1), and will force the plugs 65 into their seats, thereby withdrawing the lock bolts 64 from the pockets 58. Under the continued movement of the arms and 61, the two carrier frames 16 engaged thereby, will be moved upward, and at the same time will cause the two carrier frames 16, engaged by the arms and 62, to move downward through the cable connections 19.

The two carrier frames 16 will have moved down sufliciently, before being released by said arms, to withdraw the lock bolts 64 from the pockets 58. The arms 59 and 61 will continue to move the carriers 16 engaged thereby, upward until the uppermost pockets 58 are reached, at which time the push blocks 49 carried by said carriers will trip and permit said arms to pass. At the same time that the carriers moving upward reach the uppermost pockets, the carriers moving downward will reach the lowermost pockets, and the lock bolts 64 carried thereby will enter the several pockets 58 and lock the carriers against movement in either direction, and at the same time will lock the gate sections through the cables connecting said carriers and gate sections. As the elevator descends, the gate sections will be opened and closed in the same manner as above described, with the exception that the arms 62 and 63 will release the lowermost carriers 16, and the arms 59 and 61 will move the upper most carriers 16 downward, and through the cable connections 19 will move the carriers released by the arms 62 and 63, upward, to open and close the several gate sections.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with an elevator car, a pair of guides therefor and a floor gate, of a pair of push blocks adapted to travel on said guides, means for connecting said floor gate and said push blocks, a lock for locking each of said push blocks to said guides, and means carried by said elevator car to release said locks and for engagement with said push blocks, to open and close said floor gate, substantially as described.

2. The combination with an elevator car, a pair of guides therefor and a two art floor gate, of a pair of push blocks a apted to travel on said guides, means for connecting said gate sections and said push blocks, locks mounted in said push blocks for locking engagement with said guides, and means carried by said elevator car to release said locks and for engagement with said push blocks, to open and close said gate sections, substantially as described.

3. The combination with an elevator car, a pair of guides therefor and a two part floor gate, of a carrier frame adapted to travel on one of said guides a predetermined distance, means for connecting said floor gate sections and said carrier frame, a push block carried by said carrier frame, and arms carried by said elevator car for engagement with said push block, to open and close said floor gate sections, there being a pair of pockets in said guide, to permit said push block to swing out of engagement with said arms and permit said arms to pass by the same, substantially as described.

4. The combination With an elevator car, a pair of guides therefor, and a two art floor gate, of a pair of carrier frames a apted to travel on said guides a predetermined distance, means for connecting said floor gate sections and said carrier frames, push blocks carried by said carrier frames, arms carried by said elevator car for engagement with said push blocks, to open and close said gate sections, there being pockets in said guides to permit said push blocks to trip and swing out of engagement with said arms and permit said arms to pass the same in either direction of travel of said elevator car, and locks for locking said push blocks to said guides, and adapted to be released by said arms, sub stantially as described.

5. The combination with an elevator car, a

pair of guides therefor, and a floor gate, of a push-block ada ted to travel on one of said guides, means or connecting said floor gate and said push-block, a lock for locking said push-block to said guide, and means carried by said elevator car to release said lock and for engagement with said push-block to open and close said floor gate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM 0. SMITH. 

